Their Virgin Hostage (Masters of Ménage #5)(108)

Dominic's eyes slid away from hers. "Of course I don't love her. I barely know her."

The words hurt, but she knew what he was doing. He was trying to save her, right? He had to be. He couldn't exactly declare himself here and now.

"It doesn't matter. I'll still help you if you leave Dominic alone." She had to get the focus off Dominic.

"Kinley, you will not go anywhere with him." Dominic seemed to think he was still in charge of her at least.

"Ah, so you do have some feelings for the girl." Greg hauled her up again. "Tell me where the diamonds are or I might decide that I'm bored." He ran a hand up to her breast. "I might have to find a way to amuse myself. I like it when they scream, don't you, Anthony?"

Now Dominic was looking straight at her with murder in his eyes. "Get your fucking hands off her."

She caught sight of something moving in the background. Gigi ran into the room, heading toward the kitchen door. She barked as Butch loped into the room behind her.

It was feeding time. Gigi always reminded her it was dinnertime by standing at her bowl and barking incessantly. Her bowl was in the kitchen where the tiny dog was headed.

For the merest moment both Vincent and Greg had their eyes on the chaos that had just run in.

She heard a gunshot, then saw Dominic rear back, catching Vincent in the gut with the back of his head.

Kinley took advantage of the distraction by pulling her elbow and bringing it straight to Greg's chest. He cursed and stepped back.

"Kinley, get down!" Law yelled as he entered the room, his gun drawn. He popped off a quick shot, hitting Vincent Dargo before the man could recover.

"Drop the weapon, Jansen. I took out everyone you brought along," Law said, his eyes on Greg.

"And I arranged the distraction with the dog," Riley said, holding his gun up. "That little bitch is getting a treat. So you really should drop the gun. The game is over."

Greg had never lost his footing. He stood tall. "Don't you two realize? The game is never over. I'm not going to be taken in."

Time seemed to slow down. Greg raised his gun and aimed, and Kinley could see exactly where the bullet would hit. Dominic scrambled to his feet, but his hands were bound behind his back. 

He was helpless.

Without thinking of anything but saving Dominic, Kinley jumped just as Greg fired the gun.

She heard the sound of more gunfire splitting the air. It seemed to come from everywhere all at once.

And then she felt fire in her chest, an agony unlike anything she felt before. The air left her lungs. She gasped as she hit the floor.

Dominic's panicked face suddenly loomed over her. "Oh, god. She's hit. Get me out of these fucking ties."

Hit. It didn't feel like she'd been hit. This was so much worse, like her chest had imploded. Fire scorched her lungs, taking away all the oxygen and leaving her gasping for the tiniest bit of breath.

But Dominic was alive and unharmed.

She held on to that thought as the world went dark.





Chapter Seventeen


The nurse took the tray from her bedside table. "You didn't eat anything, hon. You have to eat to get your strength back or they won't ever let you out of here."

Kinley looked over at the nurse. She was the nicest one Kinley had found since she'd been admitted to the hospital in Anchorage two days before. "I don't know why the doctor won't release me now. The surgery went fine." The bullet had merely nicked her lung.

She was ready to go home. Well, to whatever home she had left. And it appeared she would be going alone.

Two days and no visitors. No phones calls. Nothing.

She was alone again.

"Well, you need time to rest. You've been through a lot. And the press figured out where you are. The hospital is surrounded by news vans. Doctor Craig is keeping them all away with some help from the police, too."

Ah, the police. "I'm sure they want to talk to me. I should just get it over with."

The nurse patted her hand. "I'll tell the doctor you said you were ready. He's been holding them off because he's worried about you. You've been … withdrawn. Do you think you're up for a visitor? There's a young woman out there who's very insistent on seeing you. We've checked her out, and she isn't a member of the press. This woman says her name is Annabelle Wright. Would you like to see her?"

Belle had come all the way to Anchorage? At least Kinley had one person she could count on through thick and thin. She nodded at the nurse. "Please."

Two minutes later, Annabelle rushed in, heels clicking on the cheap linoleum tiles, carrying a massive bouquet of flowers. "Oh, girl, you are going to be the death of me. Thank God you're all right."

Tears welled in Annabelle's dark eyes as she set the flowers down and reached for Kinley's hand.